Guster
Easy Wonderful

Folk music can be approached in a thousand ways. There are artists who view this genre as pure expression of genuine music with lyrics that talk about simple, everyday topics; there are artists who see in this type of music the perfect combination with their romantic feelings; and then there are others who manage to tackle millions of themes with surprising freshness. The Guster belong to this latter group. Having reached their sixth album, after years of career and musical experience, they retain the freshness of a mature work yet at the same time naively youthful. The predecessor of Easy Wonderful, Ganging Up on the Sun (perhaps their most famous work), had suggested an important musical evolution of the group, which managed to perfectly handle instrumental tracks and only partly sung ones in a full alternative style (Ruby Falls), cheerful and carefree ballads where the piano took center stage (Manifest Destiny), and more thoughtful songs (Satellite and One Man Wrecking Machine). Well, in terms of variety, this sixth album certainly does not disappoint, yet it slightly surprises with this 'wonderful simplicity' that the group offers us; the result is still very positive. It kicks off with one of the most impactful tracks of the album and one of the most beautiful in the band's entire discography, Architects and Engineers, a fantastic melody that amazes also for its inspiration and creativity. Later on, the album unfolds through romantic themes (Do You Love Me?, What You Call Love) and deep ballads with melancholic lyrics (the fantastic and almost tear-jerking Stay with Me Jesus). There are also much livelier moments in the style of the first track, such as This Could All Be Yours and Bad Bad World). The best results, however, are obtained when Guster tries to shuffle the deck, adding and removing instruments at their pleasure. Surely the harmonica of This Is How It Feels to Have a Broken Heart and the electronic base of Do What You Want are a perfect example of the group's creativity. Besides the twelve ordinary tracks, there are three hidden tracks (or at least not indicated on the back of the disc and in the booklet) placed after some silence interludes, all of which are pleasant to listen to. In conclusion, an excellent folk-pop album with catchy melodies, simple and effective, conveying numerous emotions. Not an album that immediately appeals to those who have loved this band from the start (it took me almost four years to be able to reevaluate it after the initial disappointing listens), but quite easy to appreciate for those approaching Guster for the first time; the prelude to ruin, a very pleasant prelude.